Swimming & Diving Falls To SMU In Meet's Final Events, 131-112

Mean Green Take Four Wins, 19 Podium Finishes On Senior Night

DENTON - In a dual meet that came down to the afternoon’s final events, SMU proved to be too much for the Mean Green. Despite leading through the day’s first eight races, the North Texas swimming and diving team fell to the Mustangs on senior night, 131-112.

North Texas came hot out of the gates, taking the day-opening 400 medley relay with a 3:49.67 time. That was just one of four Mean Green wins in the meet’s first seven events. Freshman Isabelle Morris won the 200 freestyle (1:51.65), finishing ahead of a second-place Mona Groteguth. Two events later, senior Krista Rossum would win the 200 IM with a 2:04.56 time, finishing less than a second off a home pool record. Freshman Sydney Buckley then went on to take first in the 100 butterfly (57.47), only the second individual win of her young career. Prior to the meet, head coach Brendon Bray inspired his group to swim for the team’s five seniors.

“I wanted our seniors to feel special because it is an incredible accomplishment to make it through a four-year commitment to a program,” Bray said. “Today I wanted our swimmers to swim for them and step up, and they did great work.”

It was in the meet’s ninth event - with four races to go - that SMU took control. The Mustangs used a first-place finish from Isabella Arcila in the 100 backstroke to put together an 87-83 lead. The win was one of three for Arcila on the day.

North Texas would pick up one more win in the three-meter dive as junior Jasmine Abercrombie finished with a 257.92 score, but it wasn’t enough to will North Texas to victory.

The Mean Green will now rest up for a pre-conference time trial event with SMU and Oklahoma Baptist. The meet is set to start at 1 p.m. tomorrow, Feb. 6, at the Carroll Aquatic Center in Southlake, Texas.

Quick Hits

Three pool records were set on Friday, but none were for the Mean Green. SMU broke Pohl records in the 100 free (50.69), 100 back (55.52) and 200 free relay (1:34.63). Krista Rossum’s finish in the 200 IM was .41 seconds short of a pool best.